I am making an older sidecar fit my bike and I wanted help getting some pics of how you guy have your mounted and of the mounts them self. It will be a 4 point mounting system. I am assuming the bottom 2 have to pivet in order for the top 2 to be adjusted. I can fab all the mounts myself just need so help.
Thanx...Blaze
Go to the home page here and download Hal Kendall's free books and read, read, read.
Lonnie
Hi Blaze, Just done this myself so will share. Are you going to be wanting to take it off? If so then the frame clamps are probably the way to go. You may need a subframe as well depending on the bike frame. I made mine permanent and welded the mount points and strengthend the frame. Its a big desision to make but the end result is I think better. You need to think about the forces that are going to be involved. In theory tons of force could be generated to a mount point so they need to be very strong. Dont know about your chassis but here is a pick of the one I designed. Note the upper strut mounting point on the chassis to gain strength and not to pivot on the same axis as the lower mount.
Tim
Thanx whitsundaytattoo, looks like you did a great job! I will be mounting it to a V-star that has a frame just like a H-D soft tail. From your pics it looks like I will be mounting mine in the same places on the frame as you did. I do not mind welding on the mount points if that is the better/saferway, but if I do take it off do you need to readjust the hack to the bike or is it still right were I left it? I is hard to make out but it looks like your 2 bottom mount pivet. From what I understand I need to set the lean angel with the top 2 mounts and so I am assumimg the bottom need 2 need to pivet. I read the book on this site and understand what he is saying but it did not have any good pics of the mounts close up. If whitsundaytattoo or anyone else here has some good close up pics of you mounts I would love to see them.
Thanx again for your help...Blaze
Originally written by Blazinbikes on 4/28/2008 1:47 AM
Thanx whitsundaytattoo, looks like you did a great job! I will be mounting it to a V-star that has a frame just like a H-D soft tail. From your pics it looks like I will be mounting mine in the same places on the frame as you did. I do not mind welding on the mount points if that is the better/saferway, but if I do take it off do you need to readjust the hack to the bike or is it still right were I left it? I is hard to make out but it looks like your 2 bottom mount pivet. From what I understand I need to set the lean angel with the top 2 mounts and so I am assumimg the bottom need 2 need to pivet. I read the book on this site and understand what he is saying but it did not have any good pics of the mounts close up. If whitsundaytattoo or anyone else here has some good close up pics of you mounts I would love to see them.
Thanx again for your help...Blaze
Not a V-Star, but this should give you some ideas.
Thanx you very much! Now I know what I have to do. You guys are the best. I can make that, but I have just one more ?. Do you guys know of a catalog or web site were I can get that hardware.
Thanx again...Blaze
Oh yeah, I love the oil filter! Were CAN I get one?LOL
I got mine here;
http://dauntlessmotors.com/Mountinghardware/misc_mounts.htm
They are also available here
http://www.motorvation.com/mntdiag1.htm
Or shout here for Swaybar, he's probably the closest one to you. Claude, do you have a website yet?
The oil filter is a Leinenkugel can with the bottom cut off. It slides right over the stock filter. When I went to the USCA Rally in LaCrosse I replaced it with a City Brewery can, Milwaukee, a Blatz, in Pittsburgh an Olde Frothingslosh, etc. :0)
Originally written by Blazinbikes on 4/28/2008 12:33 PM
Thanx you very much! Now I know what I have to do. You guys are the best. I can make that, but I have just one more ?. Do you guys know of a catalog or web site were I can get that hardware.
I've got a spare lower mount as pictured. Make me an offer.
Motorvation Lower Mount Parts
I have a 1 1/4" OD by 24" long 70 degree slider pinch tube.
and a 14" long 70 degree lower clevis tube. The clevis tube
has a 3/4" clearance tube for a heim joint or threaded rod.
These parts are extra long and can be cut down as needed.
Parts are new, black and illustrated as:
LC6 & SPT4 on http://www.motorvation.com/mntdiag1.htm
That is a good site to start. Thanx again...Blaze
The beer can is a nice touch!
I will get back to you on those parts. I have to design how I going to build it and figure out the parts I need. Take care.
I'm also "in project" and just wanted you to know all the pictures are a big help. Thanks for sharing them.
SideCarMike--appreciated your post. What size bolts did you use for attaching your upper struts?
For anyone--my lower strut attach points will space at about 16" if I use the cycle lower frame (stronger mount option). If I build a subframe, I can extend the lower strut spacing out to 22". Any thoughts on the benefits of the extra 6" versus the engineering of a subframe? Sidecar (empty) will weigh about 175#-200# (still finalizing the setup). My thanks, D-Willy
Originally written by D-Willy on 5/8/2008 8:01 AM
SideCarMike--appreciated your post. What size bolts did you use for attaching your upper struts?
For anyone--my lower strut attach points will space at about 16" if I use the cycle lower frame (stronger mount option). If I build a subframe, I can extend the lower strut spacing out to 22". Any thoughts on the benefits of the extra 6" versus the engineering of a subframe? Sidecar (empty) will weigh about 175#-200# (still finalizing the setup). My thanks, D-Willy
3/8" all bolts were grade 8 and all had nylon locking nuts. Not an engineer, but I've always tried to get my mounts as far apart as possible.
Thanks Mike--Appreciate the input--helps to have another point of reference. Doug
You can see what I did here:
http://adventuresidecar.com/ASSFLEET/assfleet2i.htm
Sidecars are all about compromise. Welding on the frame can have some disadvantages: aside from what it does to your resale value and the fact that sidecar set up is seldom perfect the first or even the second try, if not done correctly you can actually weaken the frame by welding on it
Clamps can rotate or pinch the frame causing damage or even loss of control while riding.
Subframes are sometimes difficult to fit and hard to take on and off. They reduce ground clearance with the sidecar dettached and can interfere with maintainence .
Given the choice, I'd go for a subframe. See if any of the builders have an off the shelf mount kit for your bike before you go out and re-invent the wheel.
If you choose to use clamps get the bestest ones you can find. The flimsy pipe clamp styles which used to be common are a sure way to ruin your bike. Careful alignment of the clamps so the normal stresses of driving don't force them to rotate is important and keep a close eye on them!
I wouldn't weld mounts to your frame unless you have a lot of experience with welding and with sidecars.
Thanx for the advice. I like what you have done. I am not worried about my welding but this is my first side car. I would have no idea how to go about making a sub frame. I was planning on welding it to the bike. If you can give me advice on how to make a sub frame that would be cool. I would like to see all my options. Thanx for your input...Blaze
